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Longtime education trustee Anna Song will run for the Assembly seat held by Kansen Chu, who announced last week that he’s leaving Sacramento to run for county supervisor. “I’ve always been interested in running for state Assembly. I was waiting and hoping that I might have an opportunity,” Song told San José Spotlight. “I do...
Assemblymember Kansen Chu to leave Legislature, run for county supervisor
Silicon Valley Assemblymember Kansen Chu is leaving Sacramento to run for Santa Clara County supervisor, San José Spotlight has exclusively learned. Chu, who represents the state’s 25th Assembly District, broke the news late Wednesday to friends and colleagues that he plans to give up his seat in the California Legislature in an attempt to replace...
Tech leader Matt Mahan jumps into San Jose council race
Tech entrepreneur Matt Mahan on Wednesday jumped into the San Jose City Council race to replace District 10 Councilmember Johnny Khamis next year. “My motivation to run is rooted in my own personal experience of San Jose,” Mahan said in an interview Tuesday. “I’ve always experienced San Jose as a city of opportunity.” Mahan, 36,...
Santa Clara County supervisorial candidates square off on immigration, housing
Three candidates running for a seat on Santa Clara County’s Board of Supervisors in 2020 squared off in a debate Saturday in Milpitas — the first event to kick off the campaign season. The four candidates hoping to replace District 3 Supervisor Dave Cortese are San Jose Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco, patent attorney and former Sunnyvale Councilmember Otto...
Poll: Dave Cortese leading opponents in state Senate race
Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese has emerged as the frontrunner in a crowded race to replace state Sen. Jim Beall, holding a 13-point advantage over his likely opponents, according to a new poll obtained by San José Spotlight. The poll, which surveyed 600 likely voters from March 26 to April 2, found that 32...
Initiative to align San Jose mayoral election with the presidential election fails
Despite a push from community advocates to align San Jose’s mayoral election with the presidential election cycle, the votes to make the change just weren’t there on Tuesday. Mayor Sam Liccardo, Vice Mayor Chappie Jones and Councilmembers Lan Diep, Pam Foley, Johnny Khamis and Dev Davis voted against the measure, citing concerns that the presidential...
Silicon Valley Democratic Club endorses Kimberly Ellis for state party chair
Candidates running for Chair of the California Democratic Party swung by the South Bay to answer questions at a forum on Monday — each making the case for why they are fit for the role. Following the hourlong candidate forum, the Silicon Valley Democratic Club voted to endorse Kimberly Ellis, a progressive activist and former...
Sam Liccardo won’t support measure to extend his mayoral term
“It’s one of those areas of reform that is fairly easy to make, but can have a pretty big difference in the level of civic participation in our local elections,” said San Jose State political science professor Garrick Percival. The initiative has garnered support from notable local groups and figures, including former Federal Elections Commission...
Labor leaders eye Johnny Khamis’ seat, endangering mayor’s agenda
After nearly a decade of conservative leadership, Jenny Higgins Bradanini says San Jose’s affluent Almaden Valley is ready for a change. “I’m definitely more progressive than Johnny Khamis and I think District 10 is ready for a progressive voice,” said Bradanini, 55, president of Women’s March San Jose, who this week announced her run for...
Santa Clara County lawmakers express concern with costs of all-mail election
Santa Clara County lawmakers on Tuesday debated a plan to roll out all-mail elections in 2020 and replace precinct polling places with 125 “vote centers” that would be open much for up to 11 days before Election Day. Some supervisors however, expressed doubt, citing the biggest drawback to the plan — its price tag. “I’m...